§ Mr. Jim LesterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has agreed for the BBC World Service in the present funding triennium, 1994–95 to 1996–97.
§ Mr. BaldryAs stated in the recent White Paper, "The Future of the BBC" Cmnd 2621 of July 1994, the World Service will in future operate to targets and performance indicators agreed with the FCO. These will replace the detailed prescription of languages and hours of broadcasts. For the current triennium, 1994 to 1997, the following targets have been agreed for increasing overall World Service audiences and listenership among the better educated:426W
Audience Size1(millons) 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 Global 130 134 140 Regional Asia-Pacific 7.5 8 9 South Asia 52 53 54 Africa 31.5 32 33.5 Middle East and North Africa 11 11 11.5 FSU and South-west Asia 7.5 8 9 Eastern and Central Europe 5 5.5 5.5 Western Europe 7.5 7.5 7.5 Americas 8 9 10
Audience among the better educated2 1994–95 Percentage 1995–96 Percentage 1996–97 Percentage Global 18 19 21 Regional Asia-Pacific 5 7 10 South Asia 30 35 37 Africa 68 68 69 Middle East and North Africa 40 42 44 FSU and South-west Asia 5 7 10 Eastern and Central Europe 5 7 9 Western Europe 12 13 14 Americas 1 2 3 1 Number of adults listening at least once per week, excluding areas where measurement is not possible, e.g. China. 2 Percentage of adults surveyed who have some tertiary education and who listen to the BBC at least once per week. Other key targets are to increase output in programme minutes per £1,000 spent from 33 in 1994–95 to 40 in 1996–97, and to increase the hours of output per member of staff from 31½ in 1994–95 to 46 in 1996–97.